Sandwich bag with cooler

ABSTRACT

A means to keep a sandwich or food item fresh and safe in a disposable closeable plastic bag is provided. The means is an extension to the bag that contains a refrigerateable gel polymer. As a result, the closeable bag can be placed into the freezer for allowing the gel polymer to solify. Then the bag is removed from the freezer and a sandwich or food item is placed thereinto. The bag is then closed and folded over, so that the extension abuts the food so as to maintain freshness for an extended time. Alternately, a double closeable plastic bag with substantially identical pouches or pockets is provided, with one end containing food and the opposite end designed for receiving a frozen gel polymer pack. Still further, the plastic bag may have a separate gel receiving pouch disposed to abut the food storage pocket of the bag.

This application claims priority of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/806,016, filed Jun. 28, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sandwiches and other food items will only maintain freshness and flavor for a limited time (such as those items stored in children's lunch bags or picnic baskets), as the food quality degrades rapidly without refrigeration or placement into thermal coolers. Freezer blocks used in lunch boxes permit the foods to retain freshness, but they need to be returned and cleaned for repeated usage and are heavy in comparison to the food to be preserved.

Prior art publication US 2003/0223650 A1 by Knoerzer describes a package with a pocket that can be filled with another material, but does not describe the use of a gel polymer to provide heat or freezing in the package. The Knoerzer publication teaches a pocket within the package, but no method to add another cooling material into the pocket.

Prior art patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,551 to Mitchell discloses an envelope for keeping items cold having an outer insulating envelope and an inner envelope having multiple cells containing liquid that may be frozen. The Mitchell patent is complex in construction. It is also relatively expensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, a novel means is described in that a closeable plastic bag is provided with an extension forming a single unit. The extension is so made that it will contain a chamber for a refrigerated gel polymer that may be pre-filled. The inventive bag is sold as a single use food bag. The gel polymer is captured permanently by having it sealed into the extension of the bag.

The bag is placed into a freezer and, when prepared for use, the opposite open end is expanded and the sandwich or food item is placed info the bag. The bag is then closed by pressing the top halves together to engage an interlocking fastener, thus sealing the bag. The frozen extension is then folded over so as to abut the stored food in order to keep it cold for a period of time. The bag, after the food is removed for consumption, is then thrown away, eliminating the need for the user to bring it home.

A further embodiment is a plastic bag with an extension that, rather than being pre-filled with a gel polymer, instead contains an opening in the extension with an interlocking fastener that is the same as at the opposite food storage section into which a separate frozen sealed gel polymer bag is placed.

In use, the user seals the interlocking fastener and folds the extension over so as to abut the food section. The sealed gel bag is then removed by opening the interlocking fastener for reuse.

The interlocking fasteners referred to are well known of the type found in “ZIPLOC” bags.

Additionally, in accordance with the invention, a closeable food sandwich bag is constructed with an exterior pocket separate from the sandwich bag and located atop the outer surface of the bag for allowing a frozen gel polymer pack to be inserted into the pocket, thereby cooling the food inside the bag.

The present invention is not only created for home use, but for institutional food services that do not have refrigeration or cooler chests. The invention is also applicable for medicinal storage for patients.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a disposable sandwich bag with integral gel freezer pack.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a disposable sandwich bag with a removable gel freezer pack.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a disposable sandwich bag with a removable gel freezer pack placed into a pouch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag for keeping items cold that is easy to construct.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide bag for keeping items cold that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Still other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiments, of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food storage bag according to a first embodiment of the invention, having a food storage receiving portion or pocket and a gel receiving portion or compartment with an integral gel material therein;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the food storage bag of FIG. 1, showing the food receiving portion of the bag in the open position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the food storage bag of FIG. 1, showing with the food receiving portion of the bag in a closed position end the gel receiving portion or compartment folded against the food receiving portion of the bag;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of food storage bag according to another embodiment of the invention with double opening on opposite ends, one for receiving a food item and the other for receiving a gel pack;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the food storage bag of FIG. 4, showing the food receiving portion of the bag and gel receiving portion of the bag in the open positions;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the food storage bag of FIG. 4, showing with the food receiving portion of the bag and the gel receiving portion of the bag in closed positions and with the gel receiving portion folded against the food receiving portion of the bag;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a food storage bag according to another embodiment of the invention formed with an exterior pocket or pouch to accept the gel pack; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the food storage bag of FIG. 7, with the gel pack positioned over the food receiving portion of the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a plastic food storage bag 1 with a food receiving portion or pocket 2 for receiving and storing a sandwich or other food item. Food storage bag 1 is also provided with an extension or gel receiving portion or compartment 3. Advantageously, bag 1 is fabricated from a common sheet of plastic and sealed midway at hingeable connection 4 to form the two separate food receiving and gel receiving portions or compartments. Food receiving portion or pocket 2 is provided with a closure that allows the pocket to be sealed closed and subsequently reopened. For example, food pocket 2 is provided with interlocking fasteners 5 and 6 of the type commonly used with “ZIPLOC” sandwich bags. Opposite thereto, compartment 3 is filled with a refrigeratable gel polymer 8, commonly used in ice freezer packs. Compartment 3 is captivated by permanent seal 7 to prevent any leakage from food storage bag 1. A sandwich or other food item may be inserted into open end 9. By applying pressure to surfaces 10 and 11, the interlocking fasteners 5 and 6 will lock, creating a leak proof container. When it is desired to remove the food item, surfaces 10 and 11 are pulled apart and fasteners 5 and 6 unlock to provide access to pooled 2. The plastic material of the bag is usually made from polyester or polyethylene film.

Prior to inserting the sandwich or other food item into food storage bag 1, bag 1 is placed into a freezer and the liquid gel polymer 8 is solidified. FIG. 2 depicts the food storage bag 1 with a sandwich 12 inserted through opening 9 prior to closing the bag. The hingeable connection 4 between pocket 2 and compartment 8 is of such length to allow the folding over of compartment 3 containing gel polymer 8, as shown in FIG. 3. Food storage bag 1 is closed and compartment 3 is placed in parallel contact with pocket 2 for transferring cold to sandwich 12. Surface 10 may be decorated with art or instructions or both. Upon removal of the food item, bag 1 is then disposed.

A further embodiment of the food storage bag is shown in FIG. 4 and consists of a food storage bag 100 having a food storage portion or pocket 25. Food storage bag 100 also is formed with extension or compartment 26 separated from pocket 25 and sealed therefrom by a hingeable section 27. Advantageously, food storage bag 100 is fabricated from a single sheet of plastic. Pocket 25 and compartment 26 are fabricated with identical interlocking fasteners 28 and 29. Pocket 25 is of a size suitable for containing a sandwich, and compartment 26 is of such a length as to receive a separate polymer gel pack or cold pack 30. In use, an item of food, such as sandwich 31 (FIG. 5) is inserted into pocket 25 through opening 35. Then, the outer surfaces of pocket 25 are pressed, forcing the interlocking fasteners 25 and 29 to engage, and thereby sealing the pocket. Polymer gel pack 30 is previously placed into the freezer to solidify and when solid, removed and inserted into compartment 26 through opening 32. By pressing the outer surfaces of compartment 26, the interlocking fasteners 28 and 29 are forced to mate. Then, by folding over compartment 26 containing pack 30 at the hingeable section 27, frozen gel pack 30 will transfer cold to the food item for a period of time to maintain freshness. The gel pack 30 is removed from chamber 26 by opening the interlocking fasteners 28 and 29, and removing the pack 30 through opening 32 for later reuse. The remainder of storage bag 100 is disposed of as refuse.

Still another embodiment is depicted in FIG. 7, which consists of a food storage bag formed with a pocket 50 having interlocking fasteners 52 and 53 and opening 54 for inserting an item of food, such as a sandwich. Also provided is an exterior pouch or compartment 51 attached to the exterior surface of pocket 50 and formed with an opening 55 at one end thereof into which a polymer gel pack 30 may be inserted (see FIG. 8). Compartment 51 may include a mechanism for selectively closing the end where opening 55 is located by means of interlocking fasteners, as described with the first two embodiments of the inventive food storage bag.

A sandwich 31 or other food item is placed into the opening 54 and the opening is closed by pressing the surface of 50, forcing the interlocking fasteners 52 and 53 to seal. Gel pack 30, previously placed info a freezer and then solidified, is placed into the compartment 51, transferring cold from the gel pack 30 to the sandwich 31, thereby maintaining freshness. When sandwich 31 is removed, the gel pack 30 also is removed and reused; the sandwich bag is then disposed of as refuse.

The scope of the invention may now be indicated in the following claims. 

1. A storage bag comprising: a storage receiving pocket; a compartment for receiving a refrigeratable material; and a foldable hinge separating said storage pocket from said compartment, said hinge allowing said compartment to be folded to abut said storage pocket for keeping said storage pocket cold.
 2. A storage bag according to claim 1, wherein: said compartment is an extension of said storage receiving pocket.
 3. A storage bag according to claim 1, wherein: said storage bag is formed of a single piece of plastic.
 4. A storage bag according to claim 1, wherein: said compartment is permanently sealed to maintain said refrigeratable material therein.
 5. A storage bag according to claim 1, wherein said refrigeratable material is a gel polymer.
 6. A storage bag according to claim 1, wherein: said storage bag is disposable after use.
 7. A storage bag according to claim 1, wherein: said storage receiving pocket includes an end which can be opened and closed.
 8. A storage bag according to claim 7, further comprising: a closure for maintaining said end of said storage receiving pocket selectively in an open and in a closed condition.
 9. A storage bag according to claim 8, wherein: said closure is formed with cooperating fastening elements within said storage receiving pocket that allow said closure to be sealed and unsealed.
 10. A storage bag according to claim 1, wherein: said refrigeratable material is a maintained within a gel pack.
 11. A storage bag according to claim 10, wherein: said compartment has an end, which can be opened and closed to receive said gel pack.
 12. A storage bag according to claim 11, further comprising: a closure for maintaining said end of said compartment in an open condition or a closed condition for receiving and thereafter maintaining said gel pack therein.
 13. A storage bag according to claim 12, wherein: said gel pack is removable from said compartment for subsequent reuse.
 14. A storage bag according to claim 12, wherein: said closure is formed with cooperating fastening elements that allow said closure to be sealed and unsealed.
 15. A food storage bag comprising: a food storage receiving pocket; a closure formed with fastening elements within said food storage pocket for allowing said closure to be sealed and unsealed; a compartment extending from said food storage pocket for receiving a refrigeratable material; and a foldable hinge separating said food storage pocket from said compartment, said hinge allowing said compartment to be folded to abut said storage pocket for keeping sale storage pocket cold.
 16. A food storage bag according to claim 15, wherein: said compartment is permanently sealed to keep said refrigeratable material permanently therein.
 17. A food storage bag according to claim 15, wherein: said compartment has a closure formed with fastening elements for allowing said closure to be opened and closed to receive and maintain said refrigeratable material within said compartment.
 18. A food storage bag according to claim 17, wherein: said refrigeratable material is removable from said compartment for subsequent reuse.
 19. A food storage bag according to claim 18, wherein: Said refrigeratable material is maintained within a cold pack.
 20. A food storage bag according to claim 15, wherein: said food storage pocket, said hinge and said compartment are formed from a single piece of plastic.
 21. A storage bag comprising: a storage pocket having first and second walls; and a cold pack receiving pouch abutting said storage pocket and located on said first wall.
 22. A storage bag according to claim 21, further comprising: a cold pack selectively disposed within said cold pack receiving pouch for keeping items within said storage pocket cold.
 23. A storage bag according to claim 22, wherein: said storage pocket has an end which can be selectively opened and closed.
 24. A storage bag according to claim 20, further comprising: fastening links located on said first and second end walls at said end of said storage pocket for maintaining said pocket in a sealed or an unsealed condition. 